[Dallas] Metrocon 2013, a southwest regional commercial interiors show held here, not only managed to attract more than 1,500 architects, designers and design students, but also more than 20 flooring suppliers.

As a lower-cost alternative to NeoCon, “Metrocon is a good market for us,” noted Melissa Quick, Flexco’s marketing coordinator. “Overall, we are starting to see more attention at local shows. Here, we can take time to get to the heart of what specifiers need.”

Shaw Contract views Metrocon as a mini NeoCon and exhibits with a focus on “what the local market needs,” said Jim Carew, regional vice president, Shaw Contract Group. “About half of the people we see are current clients and we take the opportunity to nurture the relationship. The rest are new to us. Good business is created here.”

Held first in 2003, Metrocon is an alliance of the Texas /Oklahoma Chapter of the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) and the Texas Chapter of American Society of Interior Designers (ASID). It is also a non-profit entity where any income from the event goes back to the IIDA and ASID chapters to fund special educational and recognition programs, as well as scholarships and charities.

Flooring exhibitors were upbeat, saying business is better this summer. Here’s what some were spotlighting at Metrocon.

▶ BOLYU reported lots of interest in its Svelte, a needle punch polyester surface backed with its Nexterra modular backing for a product that is 70 percent recycled materials, according to Bruce Campos, BOLYU vice president sales, central mountain division

▶Crossville was spotlighting its Argent series of porcelain stone, which has a 40-shade palette in polished and unpolished finishes.

▶Dal-Tile was showcasing porcelain products in stone and wood looks that were launched in May, according to Whitney Welch, architectural representative for Dal-Tile. “Business in Dallas is very busy,” she said.

▶Earthwerks reported that its LVT in loose lay/floating floors in wood looks are especially hot this summer, according to Lori Starzynski, architectural & design specification rep.

▶FLOR, the retail division of Interface that now has stores in 12 states, the District of Columbia and Ontario, Canada, is now building a commercial business through designers, according to Mike McKay, FLOR store manager in Dallas. “Designers are coming to FLOR for residential and commercial projects,” he said.

▶Karndean featured its loose lay vinyl planks. “They are adhesive-free in wood looks and are very hot right now,” said Renee Mays, Karndean commercial sales representative. Art Select Parquet is available in 3 x 9 inch strips that can be installed in a variety of ways.

▶Marazzi was showing Harmony, a new barn wood look in a 36 inch porcelain planks in three shades of brown plus white, according to Andrea Durbin, industry partner with Marazzi.

▶The Mohawk Group featured its modular systems introduced at NeoCon including its Street Thread Collection.

▶Shaw Contract was showing hard and soft surface flooring. Jim Carew, Shaw’s regional vice president, said the company is offering six-foot vinyl rolls as well as LVT (luxury vinyl tile) and LVP (luxury vinyl plank). The Chordinates collection, including ChromaTones and BassTones is a vinyl sheet assortment that features 20 percent postconsumer content and is FloorScore certified. It also contains FlorSept antimicrobial and has ExoGuard finish for durability.
Shaw was also getting positive feedback on its Hexagon Collection, which won NeoCon Silver for modular carpet.

▶Tarkett shared a large space with its divisions Johnsonite, Tandus and Centiva. Millicent McLane, solution development consultant for Johnsonite, said the company was featuring its I.D. Freedom LVT that is manufactured in the U.S. “There are more than 100 SKUs, which allows the designer the freedom to mix and match tiles and planks,” McLane noted.